Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, has called for a unified security alliance between the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States to tackle terrorism, dismantle cross border criminal networks and restore stability across the region.

Musa made the call upon arriving in Cotonou, Benin Republic, for a three day working visit focused on harmonizing regional defence strategies and strengthening collective efforts to combat insurgency and secure the Gulf of Guinea. According to a statement from his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung Babatunde, Musa was received at Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan. Addressing defence officials during the visit, Musa stressed that West Africa’s complex security challenges require a coordinated, inclusive approach, urging ECOWAS and Alliance of Sahel States leaders to work toward common solutions that would prevent insurgent spillover across land borders and enhance maritime security along the Gulf of Guinea.

Agonkan commended Nigeria for its leadership role in promoting regional stability, highlighting the country’s swift interventions in safeguarding democratic governance, and praised the performance of the Nigerian Army contingent during Benin’s National Day parade on August 1, describing Nigeria as an indispensable partner in the fight against transnational crime. During the visit, Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare, enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening military capacity, before visiting Nigeria House, where he was hosted by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mopelola Ibrahim, who said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin centers on two priorities, expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance.